Consistent Service Contributes to Wingfoot Commercial Tire Being Chosen as Goodyear’s June Dealer of the Month

When Frank Seiberling more than a century ago considered elements for the Goodyear logo that would help the tire company stand out amongst its competitors, he chose the mythical wingfooted Roman god Mercury as his inspiration.

Mercury was considered a fleet herald of good news. His winged shoes epitomized the idea of speed.

It’s no wonder when Goodyear Commercial Tire Centers, Brad Ragan Inc. and Treadco Inc. consolidated their operations 10 years ago, the winged foot came to mind, said Phillip Kane, president and chief operating officer of Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems. Wingfoot was again chosen, this time as the brand name, to help illustrate the new organization’s superior service to the commercial truck tire market.

“While speed and efficiency have been at the center of Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems operation since it was established 10 years ago, consistency of service has also been a hallmark,” Kane said. “Over the years as we’ve looked to grow our business through our commercial tire centers and through our truck care centers at truck stops across the country, we’ve never lost sight of the fact that our goal is to offer customers a consistently high level of quality products and services.”

This dedication to consistent service is part of the reason Wingfoot has earned designation as The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s June commercial tire dealer of the month.

Each month, Goodyear honors its top dealers that provide outstanding service for commercial fleet customers. The dealer of the month honor recognizes Wingfoot Commercial Tire for helping fleets solve problems through fleetHQ’s portfolio of business solutions. That includes helping them choose from Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly tires, delivering outstanding service and providing information solutions that help them make better business decisions. Wingfoot also takes full advantage of Goodyear’s training resources and tools for dealers.

“Wingfoot’s selection is a credit to our company’s business model of providing premium business solutions and premium products to truck fleets and operators,” Kane said. “Our continued drive to involve our associates in the decision-making process has also paid off. Our employees have direct contact with our customers and they often know what works and what doesn’t. So, employee involvement in improving our business processes has been critical to our success.”

Wingfoot provides tires and tire services at more than 170 commercial tire sales, service and retread facilities across the United States. The company also offers preventive maintenance and tire services at 37 on-highway truck care centers in 15 states. Wingfoot celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with events scheduled at locations throughout the 41 states in which it operates.

“Understanding our customer’s businesses and their business needs has been key to our company’s success,” Kane said. “That’s partly how we’re able to provide consistent service amongst all of our Wingfoot locations. When we understand our customer’s needs, we can better match them with the many innovative products Goodyear has to offer, such as DuraSeal Technology.”

Kane attributes the information technology tools available through fleetHQ as another reason for Wingfoot’s continued success. Goodyear routinely tests the tools it offers through fleetHQ by first testing them at Wingfoot locations before releasing them to the entire Goodyear dealer network.

“We’ve been proud to be a part of the Goodyear dealer network and to play a key role in the development of fleetHQ and all of its business solutions,” Kane said.

Finally, Kane allowed that the true credit for Wingfoot’s selection belongs to their associates.

“Our goal is to make Wingfoot a great place to work and to do business with. One is not possible without the other,” he added. “Our 2,500 associates focus on both everyday – and it shows.”